Christmas at Hope Hall Pam Rhodes

This book focuses on the run up to the harvest supper and all the trials trying to encompass all in the community of all ethnicities. We then find the community gather to start forming what will be come through local pantomime.

A beautifully well written story,full of warmth and loving sentiment shown in the local community centred around Hope Hall.

The characters there are fabulous and show through the book that things are not always as they appear on the surface. There is happiness, sadness,laughter, loneliness, warmth and ultimately friendship.

An easy read that draws you in from the first page and many underlying stories of the characters in the Hope Hall community.

There is such an underlying honesty about Pam Rhodes books.

This is last in the series and that is the greatest sadness for me to write in this review as there is so much more Hope Hall has to offer as many of the characters stories are still unfinished as many readers of the series will feel almost short changed.

Still a fabulous book though. 5/5

This warm, cosy book is a bit like a glass of mulled wine... enjoyably predictable! Familiar characters, gentle story well played out.. thank you

Christmas at Hope Hall is certainly a book to read it’s inspiring, drama, story telling and emotional but not a tear jerker. A fiction for women young and old stories of old and new relationships, people who need friends, living alone, loss of loved ones, still healing from the loss and those suffering from traumatic situations from childhood or school are still impacting them and with the help from friendships created at Hope Hall give them the healing, self-esteem, self-worth and positive empowerment to be brave to stand up to their bullies. Within the community is friendships and love for each other is great to see and makes a person to want and need to feel similar connections in their own life. A different type of fiction that a reader can connect with all the characters found within the community at Hope Hall. Even though I am a series reader and didn’t realise at first that this book is part of Hope Hall series I was able to understand who, what and why of the community and characters. I am now hooked and certainly will read the rest of the series. As the storyline impacts characters who are suffering, abused, hurt, emotional, lonely and has suffered loss of a loved one this book could cause similar emotions as you read the story. If it does cause you to be traumatised please seek help.

#ChristmasatHopeHall #NetGalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lion Hudson Ltd; Lion Fiction via NetGalley for my honest review of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book.

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Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #christmasathopehall #netgalley

Hope Hall was built in 1920 in memory of those effected by the war. Since then it has been home to the villages laughs, cries, grief and love. Through its many clubs, lunches and groups which use the hall to benefit the community. Follow the hall, it's employees and members as they go through the throngs of life during the build up too the Christmas panto.

Having read book one and two in the series. I knew that I would definitely be reading the last book in the series.

Once opening the book it is a page turner. I read this in less than 48 hours. This book truly starts as it means to go on with fun, laughter, twists and turns galore.

The characters are so relatable and you relish in the extra description you get of some of the characters you've followed in the series. You are there with the characters as they live their life through the ups, downs and turmoil that life throws them.

This book is a great easy read and it'll certainly give you a chirstmas wow! You never feel that you are missing anything from the story line allowing you to follow it through until the end with confidence that Hope Hall will welcome and support them all.

Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as divorce, death, single parenthood, cancer and loosing the love of your life. I do not feel this takes away from the cosy feel of the book and I feel actually gives each character a third dimension and gives them so much growth. Making it a very relatistic and heartfelt read.

Furthermore I loved learning about each characters past, present and future. I feel Hope Hall has lots more to offer and it's sad it's the last in the series.

5+ definitely best one of the three.

I've read the other books in this series and enjoyed them all. This was no different. It was a gentle read, a meander through the lives of the users of Hope Hall. I felt like I'd got to know them in previous books, although did have to remind myself of their back stories on occasion. Even if you haven't read the previous books, this would be an enjoyable read.
Thanks to The publishers and Netgallery for the ARC to review.

Not my usual read but I have really enjoyed this series of books. A bit disappointed with regards to the lack of 'christmas' in a christmas titled book though.

I did enjoy this festive tale but found the writing style a bit difficult at times. I appreciate this is part of a series and it felt as though the author was explaining events in previous books at times to the detriment of the current story which I think was good enough to stand alone. It was an easy, warm, festive read that was uplifting and enjoyable.

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley. I did not enjoy this book and I could not connect with any of the characters. It was just OK.

I know that I'm biased because of my love of dogs, but I loved this Christmas novella! It was cosy and sweet and has a wonderful cast of characters that you can't help but love. I find that sometimes authors will really play up tragedy/sadness in holiday novels to create tension and drama but I think Rhodes does a wonderful job of including these characters' lives without getting terribly morose.

I was entirely new to Hope Hall but I didn't feel like I was missing information from the previous books. (I will definitely be reading the first two books this winter, though!) If you prefer a shorter book or novella but still love holiday cosiness, this book is for you!

I’ve been so looking forward to this next book in the Hope Hall series, & from the opening words it does not disappoint! Drawing the reader straight in, one is immediately engaged with the very ‘real’ characters. It is so good to be back with old friends, in a village where one could imagine living, oneself. I do enjoy the way we hear from all generations, with their differing points of view – none of them become stereotyped. Many interesting storylines are deftly woven together to make a cohesive whole, resulting in a very satisfying read which one does not want to come to the end of. Having Hope Hall as the centrepiece is a brilliant idea, & the series is warmly recommended!

A fantastic finale to the Hope Hall series. The story encompasses the characters met in previous books as they get ready for the Christmas season. A lovely book to welcome in the festive season, definitely with a hot chocolate and roaring log fire.

A Christmas book! It says it all! Who doesn’t love a good story about Christmas time, whatever the weather outside? An enjoyable read. Well done and well written.

I liked this life affirming and heartwarming book. It made me smile and enjoyed it.
Well written, likeable characters and an engrossing plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Christmas at Hope Hall - Pam Rhodes

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Lion Hudson Ltd and I am leaving this review voluntarily

The drama only increases as Christmas approaches, and the panto rehearsals featuring the jocular "Can't Sing Singers" get into full swing. But the hustle and bustle of the drama in the community stems from the deeper personal stories. Loneliness, loss, and hurt impact the lives of many of the local residents. But where there is community, there is friendship, companionship, love, and most of all, hope.

Christmas at Hope Hall is the final book in a delightful trilogy centred on a Victorian church hall, the like of which can be found at the heart of so many towns across England. This wonderful finale to the series (which includes the sound of wedding bells!) is full of friends and neighbours with stories that will have you giggling one minute, and dabbing your eyes the next.

I read this book as a stand-alone and unfortunately this did not help me; I struggled to connect to any of the characters, I also struggled keeping track of them all. I was also disappointed at the lack of Christmas spirit - for a book with Christmas in the title I would expect it to feature more heavily than it did.

I really wanted to enjoy this book but unfortunately I just don't think it was for me. If you are going to read this book then I would recommend you read the first two books in the trilogy first.

Rating 3/5

Really loved this novel, it felt like Christmas even though it was the build up to it. The characters came to life and you want to be there with them. Some lovely twists and turns but,.....well read it for yourself to find out what happens, You want to curl up and keep warm with a nice hot chocolate or a big glass of wine. This is a 5 star read, enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this eARC

A really lovely festive romantic story with a great community feel. A great ending to a fantastic series of books. Totally recommend

A heartwarming story full of loveable characters and a great sense of community spirit. It was like being wrapped in a warm, cosy blanket. A great read for an autumn evening.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is the third book in a series, having read the previous books I was looking forward to reading this.

It was such a beautiful book, of new beginnings for two characters, of love and friendship. Also about how a community pulls together to ensure that the inhabitants of hope hall are cared for and make sure they are welcomed.

The story made me laugh and cry in places, but it was a story full of different characters, who each had their own story to tell, as well as caring for others.

It was much more than just a Christmas story.

Recommend this and the previous books.

Christmas at Hope Hall by Pam Rhodes was a cute Christmas story. The descriptions made you feel like you were there.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is third book in a trilogy and I have not read the previous books, but the write-up states that it can be read as a stand-alone novel. There are short sections giving information about the history of specific characters for those of us who have not read the other books; I cannot say if this provides too much repetition for readers who are familiar with the others in the series.
There are a lot of characters so I found it difficult to retain who was who and what they did in the village. The storyline starts in September, before Harvest Festival (which takes a great deal of discussion and then is passed through very quickly), and progresses towards Christmas at quite a pace; I would have found it helpful to have a date at the start of each chapter to mark progress through the storyline. The narrative style is charming, almost observational, and reflects village life. It is a clean read, a pleasant aspect with today's leanings towards language which is not my style.
I'm sure I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous books, so I have given it 3 stars to reflect this. However, I felt it swapped between scenes and characters without links so it seemed 'bitty' to me, and this is the reason for not giving a higher rating.